Page 26 of The Bodyguard's Fall

“You don’t look like you’re dating either,” Tate clipped back.

But Luke only smiled. “But aren’t you supposed to act like it?”

“When we’re out in public, sure,” Tate said, looking directly at Luke.

Luke sat back in his chair, arms folded and a look in his eyes that made me nervous. He pointed at Landrie and Jaxon, practically sitting on each other’s laps. “They look like they’re dating.”

There was a slight standoff between Tate and Luke before the corner of Tate’s mouth tipped into a smile. Without a word, he leaned down, grabbed the leg of my chair, and dragged it closer until it bumped against his. In an instant, my leg was pressed against his, and his left arm draped across the back of my chair.

It took all of three seconds before the warmth of his body seeped into mine.

“There. Better?” he asked Luke before taking a sip of his drink.

Luke lifted his brows at me. "You tell me, Liv. I don’t see much happening on your end.

“Luke. Leave her alone,” Tate warned.

But the challenge had been issued.

Meeting Luke’s gaze, I slowly lifted my right hand, wiggled my fingers, then let it fall onto Tate’s thigh.

His very warm.

Very muscular.

Thigh.

“How long have you been dating?” Ann asked, a small smile on her face.

Tate looked at me. “We’ll figure out the details and let you know. But the fact that I’m her bodyguard right now stays in this room. To everybody else you talk to, we’re dating, and she’s here visiting.”

The subject was changed, and the rest of the meal passed without major incident.

Tate’s body stayed pressed against mine.

Later that night, I was on the stairs heading up when Tate met me coming down. He’d cleaned up and was now wearing a nicer pair of jeans and a flannel jacket.

“I’m heading out,” he told me as he brushed past. “My dad’s in charge. Don’t go anywhere without him.”

I stopped and turned toward him. “Okay, we need to work on this whole bossiness thing.”

“What thing?” His steps slowed as he turned around, leaning his back against the wall.

“I know why I’m here, but you ordering me around like I’m still a teenager makes me want to do something crazy, like fling open the curtains in my room.”

Tate stared me down, probably trying to determine if I was truly that unhinged.

Like I was coaxing a two-year-old to apologize for biting his brother, I said, “Say it nicely.”

He drew in a deep breath as he considered me, attempting to use the silence to his intimidating advantage—a policeman tactic I knew well from Will. He was a man used to being in charge, but I only allowed Will to boss me around. I crossed my arms and stared back.

He tried again. “I’ve left my dad in charge of keeping you alive while I’m gone.”

I started to shake my head, and then there it was. That hint of humor that flashed across his face before he wiped it away. But I saw it. And like each time before, it gave me life.

“I forgot how annoying you are. Please don’t go anywhere without him,” he amended with great pain.

I brightened. “Oh, is that all you needed? I’d be happy to do that. Thank you for asking so nicely.”